The National tribune., 1887-06-30

reach NJ ere the rebels passed lhc JubChou'
The writer, being young and active, forged
20 the front, aud crossing an old held was
soon nj the crossing, with dozen comrades.
Casting our eyes down the road 10 the south
we saw but few hundred yards away
large force of rebel cavalry pushing mp the
road toward us On perceiying us they put
spurs 10 their horses and hogan firing at us,
YELLING FOR Us TO HALT.
We had made mp our minds never 10 sur
reDder if il could possibly he avoided, and
although worn out with our continued
marching, skulking, running and fasting,
having bad nothing 90 eat since the morning
of the l0th.--Ihis was the l2th,-we deter
mined 90 make another run for IT. Nerved
M we were by the excitement, We made
quite a squirt before exhausted nature gave
way entirely.
The greater number Of the comrades who
were with us at the crossroads were cut on
by the rebels and forced 60 surrender, poor
fellows, after all their efforts. The stoppage
OF the rebels Tor the purpose of picking mp
these Door fellows was q DEPRESSION which
resulted favorahly for us, enabling us Ia put
q greater distance between ourselves and our
pursuers The writer ran until he felt be
mus, fall by the roadside aud submit 20
whatever fate had in store for him, " hen his
ears were greeted by familiar voice:
"Hello, Sergeant, Is that youfp
Looking around I espied a stalwart Ser
eaant named Dowell, Ol Co. L of nv regi-
ment. who, astride OF a diminutive mule,
was skuTrging along az best be could. See
ing my condition he told me 20
JUMP UP BEHIND
him on the mule, which ! checrfully did,
and when we were both on hoard the dODkeys
ears were about all thar cOuid be seen OF him
but il beat walking all hollow"
We now began 90 see the rebels again pur-
suing us. Ii WAS nearly n mile 10 the TIM
ber, and our mnle began TO show slgns Of
distress Sers't Dowell spraBg 0f, aud cstch-
ing by the stiTTup-leather troited alongside,
aud when lac got tagged sprang oii, and
thus alternately we walked and rode until
the poor little mule actually fell from eN-
haustion. I shall always have warm place
In my heart for Serg't Dowell and the little
mule. ] never hear an old cOmrade say
"Heres your mule" that i do moi recall my
adventure on this one
We were very near the timber when our
mule played out and being much refreshed
by the ride we quickly reached IFS welcome
shade, and were soon out OF reach of cav
airy. We continued 10 move ON parallel
with the road. hut at sueh a distance that
though we could see or hear the rebels NOV
ing past, we We're unseen by them.
just before sundown we came ont To The
edge OF the timber, and found we were on a
hill near the town of Lamar, which seemed
20 he
FIrIL OF REBELS.
Lamar was situated in beautiful valley,
with high hills an the north and south.
The road which we wished 10 travel led
through the town and crossed the valley
from north 10 south, thence winding up a
lsug hill on the sonth side. How were we
20 get across the valley without being seen
by the enemyY This was the all-absorbing
question.
We concluded 10 go little west and
creep down the hill 10 the valley, and then
make run for it agHin-the valley being
about q quarter of mile wide. Cautiously
we cra~led along until we reached the bot
tom of the hill as yet undiscovered. The
rebels, we Thoughts were riding around
through the little city, boasting Of their
great vic;ory, and answering the thOussuds
ofqnestioRs that were put 10 them by the
eympaihizing citizens, which Of course made
the soldiers less watchful. At last, after
taking la0k in every direction. we sprang
ont into the dead level, with nothing 90
hide us from view. and rushed forward with
all the sI.sed that was in us. expecting every
minute TO hear the rebel yell which would
tell that We were discovered.
We had nearly reached the hill on the
opposite side and there was no sign 10 indi-
cate that we were sen. AND had begun %
slackeB onr pace. thinking we
wOrLD NOT BE DISCOVERED
at all. when al al once such yell broke
out m Lamar as hope never 10 hear again
Hastily looking back we saw horsemen fl
ing Out of town. Others hurTyrng 10 bOrre
and joining in the hot pursuit of tive Insig-
Diicaut Yankee Sergesnts
We realized that the race was not vet
ended. and sprang forward like hunted deer
determined 20 outwlt them, outrup them. oi
IN some way 70 elude them. We felt that II
we could reach the steep hillside ahead 0i
our pursuFers we would have the advantage
OF them, as they wereOn horses Westraiaed
every nerve, and IL seemed a. II our heaTts
were beating like u1p-hammers. The per.
epiratiOn rolled off Onr taces ilke rain. The
rebels gained rapidly on us, but al last We
reached the bin ahead of them We found il
covered Ia spots with siunted I" Jacl-oaks' sia
Oreighi lee high. aud some rocks. WedoGgeC
from one Object Go another TO hide Oursel vei
from the Fehels who, finding we had gaiDeC
cover ahead OF them, gslloped back mp ih,
valley a few hundred yard, 10 strike The roat
which wound up and around the hall TO ia,
top
AND INTERCEPT Us
81 we would attempt 10 cross the road 1.
reach the summit, which we knew to b.
covered with dense forest for miles on th
rOad 10 Memphis.
lssalZlng what their game was, we re
doubled our Efforts 10 cross he road befor
they could Cut us Off We believed that /
we got Hcrnss ahead of them The hlli was To
steep tor them 10 ride up directly behind n,
and hoy the time they could follow the road
reach thetop OF the ball aud get around 4
where We were we hoped to Ice IN the brusl
on the other side and, shielded by the dark
nesn. which WIS now coming ON, make goo,
OUT escape
We reached the road luckily ahead Of ou
pursurrs hut 80 near thai they dizcoyerc,
us rDd began Ia empty tbelr carbines at N
We had but u htlle way 10 20 now 1
reaich the summit. but the rebels, hait.Dg D.,
meath us. sent their bullets uno0mfoIlabl
close, aud we began 10 fear that thai "
would yet be "winged.n Just a. We arrive
within few feet Of the Top of the hil
cra~lln- through The bushes AS fast Ar pa
eIbls, we were asIonnded TO bear a wolfe
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